Guangzhou City, the southern place of the Chinese Dynasty.
In winter, the weather is dry and rainless. The sun was shining brightly during the day, and although it was a little chilly, it felt comfortable.
Since the bandit suppression army set off from Qingyuan again, after two days of traveling, they finally arrived at the west gate of Guangzhou City at about 1:30 on the morning of the third day.
The city wall of Guangzhou is two feet eight feet high, two feet wide at the top and three feet and five feet wide at the bottom. There are city gates, towers, watchtowers, police stations, etc.
At this time, Guangzhou City had built eighteen city gates, and the west gate was one of them.
In the 35th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Portuguese Dominican Cruz, who came to Guangzhou, described in his writings the Guangzhou he saw outside the West City:
This city (as well as other cities) was built along the river, much like it was within a moat, because the other sides of the city were surrounded by a wide moat filled with water. There is enough territory between this road and the city wall to gather a large army.
The soil from the excavation was piled between it and the wall, so that the base of the wall was much higher than the rest. However, there is still a major shortcoming of the city outside Hao, that is, on the other side of the river, between the city wall and Hao, there is a hilltop that overlooks the entire city within the wall. ("China Chronicle") 1
During the Shunzhi period, Shang Kexi, the leader of the San Francisco dynasty, cast six or seven red cannons in the Jingtai pit, mounted them on the West Mountain, and bombarded the city day and night. A large section of the city wall behind Guangxiao Temple was destroyed, but the attack was still possible. Not going into town.
Guangzhou has Donghao, Xihao, Yudaihao and Nanhao. The so-called Hao refers to a moat (Yong is not a moat), built outside the city wall.
Outside the west gate is Xihao.
The "thickness and majesty" of the Guangzhou City Wall amazed many bandit suppressors who had never left the village since birth. Not to mention these bandit suppressors, even Zhang Rui, who had seen the high-rise buildings of later generations, was also amazed by it.
When they arrived outside Ximen Xihao, the bandit suppressing army rested and had breakfast. Unlike other armies, the bandit suppressing army had cooking soldiers to cook. The bandit suppressing army had its own rules for meals.
The arrival of the bandit suppression army did not cause panic to the people of Guangzhou City. On the contrary, many people were still vaguely looking forward to it, including many knowledgeable people.
Nowadays, people in Guangzhou can hear from time to time that "the Hu people have no destiny for the country for a hundred years, and there will be six after the Double Eight."
At this time, the Manchu Qing Dynasty was not yet the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Although the Manchu Qing Dynasty massacred a lot of people, they also issued the order "Keep your head but not your hair, leave your hair but not your head".
However, at this time, the people below still had a certain understanding of the Ming Dynasty, and of course they had not yet developed the "habit" that pigtails were left by their ancestors. Therefore, few people would ridicule the bandit-suppressing army as "long-haired".
Many people in Guangzhou have long been impatient with this braid, but they have no ability to resist, so they can only "compromise".
Nowadays, many people have their scissors ready, waiting to be cut off by the bandit-suppressing army after they capture the city of Guangzhou, so that they can have the face to face their ancestors a hundred years later.
Ordinary people are naturally not worried about the siege of the city by the bandit suppressing army. But now it is the big households in the city who are troubled. Now they have really experienced what it means to be in a dilemma.
The Qing army asked them to provide money, food and personnel to help defend the city. However, judging from the way the bandit-suppressing army treated the gentry in Wuzhou City, if anyone dared to pay for food and soldiers to help defend the city, the bandit-suppressing army would ransack their homes.
There are some tall and majestic Qing troops guarding them; an overwhelming bandit-suppressing army.
The Manchu Qing court, which owned a vast land and still claimed the title of "orthodox"; the bandit-suppressing army that had just started but was strong and had some prophecies that "the Hu people will not have a national destiny for a hundred years, and there will be six after the Double Eight."
The two are compared with each other
These big players have to be cautious and cautious. Without money and food, the Qing army could confiscate their homes and exterminate their families in the name of "collaborating with the enemy". Without money and food, the bandit-suppressing army would confiscate their homes.
This is a bet. If you win the bet, it will be fine, but if you lose the bet, it will not end well.
Therefore, this is the time to show wisdom.
Many large households have already thought about it. The Qing army will naturally have to pay and feed people. After all, "it is better to be an official than to be in charge." Then he sent people to secretly send money and food to the bandit suppressing army to express his feelings. If the bandit suppressing army really captured Guangzhou City in the future, he would be embarrassed to have him stabbed again!
Naturally, many people do not believe that the bandit suppression army can really succeed. After all, the Manchu Qing Dynasty has ruled for so many years. In which year did no one rebel, and in which year did those who shouted "Reverse the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty" succeed?
As long as the Manchu and Qing court responded and the army pressed closer, the bandit suppressing army would naturally be defeated.
However, even if the bandit suppression army will be defeated in the future, if they are really capable of taking down Guangzhou City, if they do not express an "attitude", they will not have a chance to see the future.
"Dong..."
"Dong..."
"Dong..."
In the open space outside the west gate of Guangzhou City, the bandit-suppressing troops began to form their troops and prepare to attack the city.
At this moment, many people outside the city were watching the battle. Many ordinary people saw the business opportunity to sell snacks in that crowded place, and even cheered for the bandit suppressing army.
Due to the propaganda of the anti-bandit army and the "positive" propaganda of the anti-bandit army by all parties, the people of Guangzhou City are not afraid of the anti-bandit army.
"This is the real King Master, what is there to be afraid of?" Someone replied disdainfully to the person who asked him "Why are you not afraid?"
Why did Zhang Rui choose Ximen to attack?
Mainly because there are no cannons here
Guangzhou City has too many gates but not many cannons, so it is destined that there are no cannons in some places. Moreover, these city-defending cannons were extremely heavy and difficult to move. Naturally, many city gates did not have cannons.
In addition, since the Three Feudatories of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, Guangzhou City has not been able to use cannons for decades, and even the enemy has not attacked the city, so cannons have not been considered much, and they have even been abandoned.
Li Shiyao couldn't help but get angry when he saw the arrogant posture of the bandit suppressing army at the female wall. Although there are no cannons at the west gate, there are still useful crouching tiger cannons and multi-cell cannons. Although they can't hit far and can't hit the bandit suppressing troops far outside the moat, it's good to make a few noises to boost their morale.
"Order to fire at the rebels at the city gate." Li Shiyao ordered to the flag officer who was following him.
"Come on, general." The flag officer knelt down and replied, then stepped aside to convey the order.
At this time, all the generals following Li Shiyao deeply believed in Li Shiyao's order. In a fight, one should lose the opponent but not the enemy, let alone a war?
So, when the drums of the bandit suppressing army were beating loudly, the sound of artillery was also heard from the top of the west gate of Guangzhou City.
"Bang..."
"Bang..."
"Bang..."
Listening to these sounds, Li Shiyao suddenly felt that he had gained confidence again.
.
At this time, all the generals following Li Shiyao deeply believed in Li Shiyao's order. In a fight, one should lose the opponent but not the enemy, let alone a war?
So, when the drums of the bandit suppressing army were beating loudly, the sound of artillery was also heard from the top of the west gate of Guangzhou City.
